The family that was directly or indirectly involved in Thursday’s car crash that also concerned Tom Brady is upset with the attention that the superstar quarterback is getting while one of their loved ones remains hospitalized.

From the Boston Globe:

“Why? Because we’re poor, we don’t have money, because Tom Brady is famous,” said the sister of Rogerio Rodrigues, the 49-year-old man who was injured in the accident. The sister asked that she not be identified to avoid publicizing the case any further.

Rodrigues suffered critical injuries, including a broken back, she said, and is undergoing surgery today after a series of surgeries Thursday.

Rodrigues’s 21-year-old son, Ludgero, was cited in the accident with running a red light and causing the crash. Ludgero Rodrigues has a lengthy driving record, according to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

“His son was driving because he had a very bad back problem,” the sister said.

She said Ludgero swears he did not run the red light. He told police he had a green light. The sister argued that the media and authorities sympathized with Brady.

“Nobody talks about Tom Brady because he’s a rich guy, and we’re poor,” she said. “My brother is in very bad condition. We are upset. Leave the family alone because we are in pain.”

I love how the sister mentions not once, but twice how their family is poor. In the grand scheme of things, what does that have to do with the situation? I would argue that it’s Brady’s fame that is garnering him more attention than the other victim in this situation – not his fortune. (Although one can make the argument that fame and fortunate run parallel to each other.)

Either way, if the brother who was driving the vehicle a) was cited for running a red light and causing the accident and b) has a “lengthy driving record,” then I’m not quite sure what the sister is looking for here. Had Brady caused the accident and was getting sympathy from the media, then she would have a leg to stand on.

But to play the we’re-getting-the-short-end-of-the-stick-because-we’re-poor card in this situation is weak. I feel bad that anyone suffered injuries, but get real. Don’t be mad at Brady because he’s a celebrity and receiving attention when it was your family member that was cited and that has the record.

Besides, this was all about timing anyway after Brady signed his new $72 million deal (which included $48.5 million guaranteed). Of course he’s going to get attention – he’s Tom Brady and he’s now the highest-paid player in the NFL.

ESPN.com is reporting that Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady was involved in a car accident this morning, although he wasn’t hospitalized and is expected to return to team facilities today. However, a passenger in the other car was taken to the hospital and it’s unclear at this point whether or not he or she suffered any serious injuries.

The accident occurred on the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Gloucester Street in Boston, according to the reports.

Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald told The Boston Globe that a sedan and a passenger van collided at 6:34 a.m. MacDonald told the newspaper that a traffic light was also struck.

Sources told The Globe that Brady was driving the sedan and was treated at the scene. Sources told the newspaper that Brady got out of his car but that the “Jaws of Life” had to be used to free a passenger in the van.

Fire officials told the AP that a passenger in one vehicle was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life threatening.

It’s good to hear that the passenger in the van doesn’t have life-threatening injuries and I hope that his or her condition doesn’t change for the worse.

Brady is incredibly fortunate that he didn’t suffer any serious injuries, not only for his current and long-term health, but also because he’s on the verge of signing a new contract. I hate to sound insensitive by bringing up money in a situation like this, but the fact is that had he gotten seriously hurt and couldn’t play anymore, the Patriots obviously wouldn’t be prepared to fork over an $80 million contract (or whatever figure he eventually signs for). I realize he isn’t hurting for money either way, but $80 million is $80 million.

But again, the most important thing here is that nobody was seriously injured. Hopefully we get some good news soon about the passenger in the other vehicle.

In an exclusive interview with CBSSports.com, this is what Randy Moss (who is entering the final year of his contract) had to say about not receiving an offer yet for a new deal:

“When you have done so much and put so much work in, it kind of feels like I am not wanted,” Moss said in an exclusive interview with CBSSports.com. “I am taking that in stride and playing my final year out and whatever the future holds is what it holds, but it is kind of a bad feeling — feeling not wanted. It is not like my production has gone down. I am speaking from an individual standpoint. I don’t know about Tom [Brady's] or whoever else’s contract.

“I am a little older and understand the nature of the business — the older you get the more your skills supposedly diminish, but I think I am getting wiser in how to use my physical skills. That’s the frustrating part when you put so much heart and desire into things and feel like you are not wanted.”

Hey Randy, reality check, bud: If Tom Brady doesn’t have a new contract yet, then neither do you. So sit tight, show some patience and the Patriots will probably get around to you once the quarterback that has produced three Super Bowl rings gets his new deal.

I can certainly understand that Moss is uneasy going into the final year of his current deal without the guarantee of a contract beyond this season. And I also understand that he’s been highly productive over the last couple of years and thus, has earned a new contract offer.

But am I missing something here? Who was the guy that completely tanked in Oakland for two years before New England saved him? Oh, that was Randy Moss. Correct me if I’m wrong, but he still got paid for that monstrosity of an effort he put up with the Raiders, so excuse me for not shedding a tear for him because he doesn’t feel wanted.

New England has long taken the approach that players have to earn every single contract they receive. That means Moss may have to go out and catch another 75 balls this season in order to get a new deal. So be it. Like he said, he understands the business side of the NFL, so if that’s what he has to do then that’s what he has to do.

But not feeling wanted? Please. I wonder what the Raiders and there fans thought when they watched Moss give up on damn near every route in ran in 2005 and 2006.